What bikes should we be looking at?

[unzippy]

Hello.
Our first ebike experience was in Tokyo on these:

Although it was comically small for me it was still fantastic way to get around and awesome fun to boot.

We are investigating a bike each that we will take to Aus when we emigrate to Melbourne.
Usage will be leisure and maybe commuting, depending on jobs and location.

Wife says:
5ft 3in
57kg
Straight handle bars, not curved in to the rider.
General leisure, commuting, not off road.
Not pink or white.

Me:
6ft
115kg
Crossbar, not step through.
More power than hers so I can keep up
General leisure, commuting, not off road.

Budget, no more than £2k for the pair.
I've built/rebuilt bikes as a teen and then moved on to cars, serviceing, engine swaps so consider myself handy with a spanner.

How will the batteries survive up to 3-4 months in the container being shipped ffrom Eng to Aus?

Cheers!

 

[Peter Thornton]

Why don't you buy bikes over there, you will stand more chance of back up and servicing?

 

[unzippy]

From what I've seen so far, they are cheaper here.
We are also taking a container of our belongings, 2 bikes will fit in no problem.
I'm happy to service them.

 

[unzippy]

Or, what do you recomend here, I can then check on prices over there?

 

[E-Wheels]

Or, what do you recomend here, I can then check on prices over there?

I would suggest you buy before you come to Australia as our ebike market is very immature and expensive with limited choice and availability
Have look here http://melbourneelectricbicycles.com.au/?gclid=CK-C6ceRitUCFYYIKgodcJYMoA to see what options are available to you

 

[unzippy]

Thanks mate, those prices are way out of my league!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

They have slightly different rules for Ebikes in Australia, depending on exactly where you go. It would be better to buy them there, or at least check what rules apply. I think some states still have a 200W limit.

 

[unzippy]

The link above (http://melbourneelectricbicycles.com.au/) is flogging bikes with 250W motors

Also:

"In Australia it is illegal to ride an electric bicycle on road or bike paths with a stated power output of more than 200w without a pedal assist system, or 250w with a pedal assist system. The latter is also required to only have a pedal assist, and limited to do 6km/h via a throttle or cruise control mechanism. In both cases the motor must be speed limited to 25km/h. If you are riding off road however, there are no limits."
From here http://dillengerelectricbikes.com.au/blog/electric-bikes-and-the-law.html

 

[E-Wheels]

Thanks mate, those prices are way out of my league!

If you are intending to bring a mid drive consider one with a Bosch system as the brand is well represented and I believe there is a service centre either in Sydney or Melbourne

 

[unzippy]

Thanks for that, do the motors need regular servicing?

 

[egroover]

http://melbourneelectricbicycles.com.au/shop/focus-aventura-impulse-gents/ works out at about £1800 so not unreasonable

 

[anotherkiwi]

Thanks for that, do the motors need regular servicing?

No.

As for your question on the batteries in the container - charge them to 38.5 V (or within a few tenths of V) and they will be in storage mode and should show exactly the same voltage when they arrive.

 

[unzippy]

http://melbourneelectricbicycles.com.au/shop/focus-aventura-impulse-gents/ works out at about £1800 so not unreasonable

Thanks, looks nice. But as per the original post:

"Budget, no more than £2k for the pair."

 

[egroover]

one of each of these ?

https://www.electricbikecentre.com.au/bikes/all?category=99?category=99&category=99

should be under you total £2k budget

 

[unzippy]

Nice, ta. Good to have a plan B.
But if the consensus is that we can get more for our money here, what are the forum's recommendations?

 

[Trevormonty]

Test ride a few different bikes in different price brackets including Bosch or Shimano middrive. NB these are typically £2k each.

 

[unzippy]

I'm confused, what's the point of testing something I can't afford?

 

[Rohloffboy]

Emax.ebikes (Ewan Maxwell) of Austrailia are distributing the Bafang Max Drive Ebikes, nice Center Mounted motor system like the Bosch, only the Bafang has more torque.

And of course the price will be good, compared to Bosch.

 

[unzippy]

If the consensus is that we can get more for our money here in the UK, what are the forum's recommendations?

 

[TZC]

These are in the price range roughly £2010 for both I think, and seem fitting- the only problem being the handlebars are not straight on the petite. The only bike there with straight handlebars is the santana cd and that is a little large maybe, a little overpowered too and puts things 100 pounds over budget. Not sure if something might be able to be done about having straight handlebars for the petite instead.

Just an idea.

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?petite
http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear



http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?santana-cd#!prettyPhoto